CYCLING NOTES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XCIV, Issue 10703, 12 July 1895, Page 6

CYCLING NOTES.

[BT BOVEB IN “ CANTERBURY TIMES.”] Houben, the Belgian champion, defeated Banker, the American, in a three-distance match at Paris on May 23. On the Bordeaux track, early in May, Barden, the English professional, rode five miles in the extraordinary time of 9min 49sec. The Carwardine Cup, to which I have referred on a previous occasion, stands 4ft lOin, in height, is valued at 300 gs, and 6570 z of silver were employed in its manufacture. The committee of the Melbourne Bicycle Club is just now engaged in drafting the Austral meeting programme, which will shortly be issued. The Austral first prize will be, as usual, £2OO. The committee of the English Amateur Athletic Association has decided that the unlicensed riders of the National Cyclists’ Union being practically suspended, they would not be acknowledged as amateurs by the Athletic Association. The habit of placing the instep, instead of the ball of the foot, on the pedal is easily

acquired, but difficult to break off afterwards. It is surprising to notice the number who ridei n this way.

There were sixty-five entries for the Paris-Bcrdeaux race, including twentyfour riders in the amateur section, England was represented in the latter class by E. H. Carlisle who finished third.

At the Velodrome Buffalo, Paris, on May 19, Michael, an English cyclist, finished first in a 100 miles race, and covered the distance in 4hr 2min 45±sec, which is a world’s record. Huret, the French champion, was second, Smin 12aec behind Michael.

Mr Balk, of Palmerston North, has invented a safety bicycle, on which he claims that a rider will he able to accomplish the spsed of one mile per minute. A sample machine is on view at the premises of Messrs Waller, Myhre and Co., Manchester Street. It is astonishing the number of Australian papers that have accepted the statement of the cablegrammer that Fontaine’s 456 miles in twenty-four hours was the record. As I previously stated, Shorland covered nearly 461 miles when he won the Cuca Cocoa Cup race last year, and since then it has been stated that Huret, the French champion, rode 515 miles in twenty-four hours. The English long-distance champion’s record was done in the open, while the probability is that as Fontaine and Huret put up,their records in Paris they rode on a coyered-in track, i ■ The extraordinary demand for bicycles continues in most American cities, but chiefly imChioago. Second-hand machines are 'scarce at any price, and makers are working double turns to catch ap'. with supplies,. of naw wheels. " It is said^that in Denver One street car company has been

compelled to reduce wages because the bicycle has made such inroads into its revenue, the statement being in flee weather the receipts fall 50'per cent. A Chicago paper, the Referee, figures that if there are 100,000 people using bicycles in the city it would deprive the transportation lines of 10,000dol a day, or over 3,000,000d0l a year.

A society has been formed in Paris (says the Daily Chronicle) for the “ suppression of the tyranny of cyclists.” The method to which the members are pledged ’is—■ never to get out of the way! Whatever the coat to themselves, they resolutely hold their ground against the advaaciugwho*!man, and make him circle round them. One member writes that he has suffered all sorts of contusions and lost several suit;* of clothes, and only been knocked ovor once. " But how many cyclists,” he exclaimed, “ have I not upset i • This society would seam almost Tolstoian in its principle of passivity, if its members did not take such an unchristian joy in the discomfiture of their fellow-creatures. “Ariel" in The Gentlewoman, a Loudon ladies’ journal, has the following eeneib e remarks on the dress question;—-‘‘’Many ladies, though wishing to give a trial to bicycling, cannot make up their mind to do so, because of the famous and now stale question of dress. My honest advice to them is to forget for awhile that there ia such a thing as a ' rational * costume. Let them take a few lessons in any gown they like; time and experience alone ca&teich the cyclist which ia the garb that sui(s. her best. Every dress should be accord lag to the individual type, figure, ideas, aad opinions of the wearer. The world would be a dull place, if all the women who s-ro born to live in it were bound to he cfiually attired.” ' , •.